Hurricane wave sweeps Maine spectators out to sea

People watch as water breaches a rock wall at Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, Canada, Sunday, August 23, 2009. Hurricane Bill has brought a steady downpour to parts of Nova Scotia, along with curious onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of crashing waves, as it continues its path into Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Sunday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Tim Krochak)
— AP

People watch as water breaches a rock wall at Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, Canada, Sunday, August 23, 2009. Hurricane Bill has brought a steady downpour to parts of Nova Scotia, along with curious onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of crashing waves, as it continues its path into Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Sunday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Tim Krochak)
/ AP

"It overwhelmed the beach," he said. "It reformed the beach. It's not destroyed a lot, but it's going to reshape the beach."

In Canada, the hurricane was expected to bring up to 7 inches of rain to Nova Scotia and was expected to approach Newfoundland by Sunday night.

Power outages were reported across Nova Scotia's southern shore, and some roadways near the province's coastline were closed.

The storm drew onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of crashing waves as it marched through Atlantic Canada.

Despite repeated warnings, people gathered in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, and along the boardwalk in downtown Halifax as swells grew steadily in strength and size.

"So far, it's pretty wild," said Heather Wright, who was walking along the Halifax harbor.

"We're not going right to the edges or nothing. And we're here mainly to sightsee a bit and go back home and ride it out."

Craig MacLaughlan, CEO of Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office, said no major damage has been reported in the province.

"We can be blessed that it has moved off a bit and that we're not getting some of the damage that we thought (we would)," he said.

The storm delayed or halted ferry services from New York to Maine, and kept many beaches closed.

In Montauk, N.Y., swimmers weren't allowed in the water, but surfers were out riding the waves. State parks spokesman George Gorman said almost 2,000 surfers showed up at Montauk on Sunday – the most ever counted there. They enjoyed waves that reached as high as 16 feet.

Some areas that had prepared for the worst saw nothing. Libby Russ, who owns the Three Belles Marina in Niantic, Conn., said a few swimming floats were hauled in from Long Island Sound on Saturday, but that was the extent of the excitement.